boostin
20th November 2007, 16:49
Well I had a few goals for the weekend.
#1 - Don't bin it
#2 - Don't finish last
Being my first time at Puke I had only heard the horror stories about the place and how bad it is. After finally getting around the track on Sunday I have to say that the place is not that bad, in fact it is good fun.
Rocked up to the track on Sat morning for the test day looking forward to getting some track time before race day. Managed to flood the bike trying to get it started first time, that lead to a flat battery. The guys pitted next to me were good enough to offer me a batt charger to use. Pulled the plugs and battery out. Charged the batt until it was coming up to the bikes session again. In my rushing stressed state I managed to put the battery in backwards and blow the main fuse...not knowing if the bike even had a main fuse I assumed I had fucked the CDI or similar. The rushing stressed state now turned to angry disappointment. Packed the bike up not knowing that a simple 30A blade fuse would have her running again. On the way home I stop by Mt Eden MC and have a quick word the the mechanic there, he promptly shows me where the fuse will be located. Get home, change fuse, bike starts first time.
Sunday manage to get to the track at a reasonable time and got through all the scrutineering only droping the bike cold on its side once. When they were checking the throttle return spring I got the feeling that the bike might flood, but for some reason (stupidity) I didnt take the plugs out to let it dry or anything smart like that. Comes time for the first timers sighting laps, go to start bike, doesn't go, start to flatten batt trying...in all my weekend of stupidity I did do something right, I did bring a batt charger on Sunday. So out with the plugs, and batt. Go and see the officials and they say its fine to miss F3 practice and go out in clubmans. That leaves enough time to charge the batt and let the engine sort its shit out - hopefully.
It seems I learnt another thing from Saturday, how to check a battery is in the right way round. I must have checked it 10 times before attaching the terminals. Bike even started this time round...brilliant. On the dummy grid before clubman practice I asked if I could also switch to clubmans for the racing as I had zero track time so far and was a little worried about pissing people off as I wobbled around. No problem there, changed to clubmans.
Get out for practice and I notice that the bike won't rev over 11500rpm...this should make for an interesting time...Puttering around Puke at what seems like walking pace I figure that at least I can't get in anyones way at the start if I qualify last. Some how I didn't qualify last...I assume that anyone behind me didn't go out in practice.
R1: Start I bogged it, was passed by everyone, I kept up with the pack until about the beginning of the back straight, when they all disappeared only to be seen again at about lap 6 when I was lapped by a few.
R2: This race was only 6 laps long, so I re adjusted my goal from not finishing last, to not getting lapped. I had a slightly better start and managed to keep up with the pack until about the beginning of the back straight. There was an incident just after the hairpin, after the track was cleared we go another 3 laps...perfect, can't get lapped in 3 laps.
Didn't bother with the last race, was too tired from the sun/racing/lack of food.
Over all I had a good day racing, would have been better if the bike was working but oh well. I am looking forward to next round where hopefully I will have the bike sorted.
p.s Anyone have any ideas about the miss/rev limiter at 11500rpm? Could it have been caused by the batt incident?
#1 - Don't bin it
#2 - Don't finish last
Being my first time at Puke I had only heard the horror stories about the place and how bad it is. After finally getting around the track on Sunday I have to say that the place is not that bad, in fact it is good fun.
Rocked up to the track on Sat morning for the test day looking forward to getting some track time before race day. Managed to flood the bike trying to get it started first time, that lead to a flat battery. The guys pitted next to me were good enough to offer me a batt charger to use. Pulled the plugs and battery out. Charged the batt until it was coming up to the bikes session again. In my rushing stressed state I managed to put the battery in backwards and blow the main fuse...not knowing if the bike even had a main fuse I assumed I had fucked the CDI or similar. The rushing stressed state now turned to angry disappointment. Packed the bike up not knowing that a simple 30A blade fuse would have her running again. On the way home I stop by Mt Eden MC and have a quick word the the mechanic there, he promptly shows me where the fuse will be located. Get home, change fuse, bike starts first time.
Sunday manage to get to the track at a reasonable time and got through all the scrutineering only droping the bike cold on its side once. When they were checking the throttle return spring I got the feeling that the bike might flood, but for some reason (stupidity) I didnt take the plugs out to let it dry or anything smart like that. Comes time for the first timers sighting laps, go to start bike, doesn't go, start to flatten batt trying...in all my weekend of stupidity I did do something right, I did bring a batt charger on Sunday. So out with the plugs, and batt. Go and see the officials and they say its fine to miss F3 practice and go out in clubmans. That leaves enough time to charge the batt and let the engine sort its shit out - hopefully.
It seems I learnt another thing from Saturday, how to check a battery is in the right way round. I must have checked it 10 times before attaching the terminals. Bike even started this time round...brilliant. On the dummy grid before clubman practice I asked if I could also switch to clubmans for the racing as I had zero track time so far and was a little worried about pissing people off as I wobbled around. No problem there, changed to clubmans.
Get out for practice and I notice that the bike won't rev over 11500rpm...this should make for an interesting time...Puttering around Puke at what seems like walking pace I figure that at least I can't get in anyones way at the start if I qualify last. Some how I didn't qualify last...I assume that anyone behind me didn't go out in practice.
R1: Start I bogged it, was passed by everyone, I kept up with the pack until about the beginning of the back straight, when they all disappeared only to be seen again at about lap 6 when I was lapped by a few.
R2: This race was only 6 laps long, so I re adjusted my goal from not finishing last, to not getting lapped. I had a slightly better start and managed to keep up with the pack until about the beginning of the back straight. There was an incident just after the hairpin, after the track was cleared we go another 3 laps...perfect, can't get lapped in 3 laps.
Didn't bother with the last race, was too tired from the sun/racing/lack of food.
Over all I had a good day racing, would have been better if the bike was working but oh well. I am looking forward to next round where hopefully I will have the bike sorted.
p.s Anyone have any ideas about the miss/rev limiter at 11500rpm? Could it have been caused by the batt incident?